IDing some tools

[pizzabooty]

hi friends, i picked up a few tools today from local sellers and want a little help identifying them (mostly to see how ripped off i got!)

firstly is this set of torx bit sockets. seller claimed it was cornwell, but i haven't really been able to identify any cornwell sets that look quite like this. maybe it's a vintage set, but these look very new. they also just have CR-V and the bit/socket size stamped on them. there's also a MADE IN USA sticker, but that very well could have been stuck in there for looks.


it looks mysteriously similar to this hex bit socket set i also bought from the same guy, made by sunhzmckp. they seem to be a chinese brand, although i can't really find too much about them.


next up is this impact driver i bought from a pawn shop. it was claimed to be mac, although the label that was on it indicated it was part of a pair, with the part number being AH600 which was actually an older air hammer sold by mac. i assume that it isn't mac, and it looks a lot like old vessel impact drivers, but there are no brand markings anywhere and the only indication i even have of manufacturer/COO is the patent number stamped into the bit adapter. top number is USA patent, bottom is ROC patent which i believe to mean taiwanese-made.



the socket sets were $35 apiece, and the driver was (painfully) $50. any information is appreciated, thanks!

 

[Tools4Me]

None of that stuff is USA made, and the manual impact driver was likely your biggest mistake. Cornwall does re-brand quite a few foreign made tools, but the bit sockets sets I have seen still have "Cornwell" stamped into each socket and have "Cornwell" molded into the plastic of the case lid. Those two bit socket sets look like generic brand China/Taiwan bit socket sets which usually sell for about $30-45. You likely paid full retail or slightly more for each of them.

Since there's no branding stamped on the bit sockets to look up reviews, you will have to use them to find out if they are decent quality or not. Some cheap tools are quite good and some are garbage. If the bit tips are strong and work well, consider the two socket sets a "be more careful" lesson for the future but don't feel bad. There are deceptive sellers out there, but there are also "diamonds in the rough" in the cheap tool arena. The nice thing about bit sockets is that the smaller sizes are where low quality usually becomes apparent, but in most cases the smaller bits can be easily punched out and replaced with higher quality 1/4" hex insert bits as needed for very little money, so even if the set itself isn't great overall it can still be made useful and functional. The chrome socket part of the bit socket usually works fine no matter what the brand is.

It looks like the impact driver is a brand like ABN or similar. A generic China (maybe Taiwan) manual impact driver. Likely originally sold along with some bits for $15-20 new max. That impact driver might not be something you would want to show off to your friends, but it's likely perfectly functional, which is what actually matters.

ABN Manual Reversible Impact Driver Set - Flathead 5/16 and 3/8in and Phillips #2 and #3 Hand Impact Driver Tool Bits - - Amazon.com

ABN Manual Reversible Impact Driver Set - Flathead 5/16 and 3/8in and Phillips #2 and #3 Hand Impact Driver Tool Bits - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Even quality brand used tool finds can turn to dust. I have purchased many things for great prices over the years only to find a hairline crack or something similar after getting home and beginning the cleaning process. There will always be mistakes and occasional losses when buying used, no matter how careful you are. I am still WAY ahead though in terms of money and time spent, so don't let situations like the one you just went through discourage you from continuing to buy used tools.

 

[unslow1]

Ouch! That driver looks a lot like one I paid $10 for a few years ago at an Autozone.

 

[pizzabooty]

None of that stuff is USA made, and the manual impact driver was likely your biggest mistake. Cornwall does re-brand quite a few foreign made tools, but the bit sockets sets I have seen still have "Cornwell" stamped into each socket and have "Cornwell" molded into the plastic of the case lid. Those two bit socket sets look like generic brand China/Taiwan bit socket sets which usually sell for about $30-45. You likely paid full retail or slightly more for each of them.

Since there's no branding stamped on the bit sockets to look up reviews, you will have to use them to find out if they are decent quality or not. Some cheap tools are quite good and some are garbage. If the bit tips are strong and work well, consider the two socket sets a "be more careful" lesson for the future but don't feel bad. There are deceptive sellers out there, but there are also "diamonds in the rough" in the cheap tool arena. The nice thing about bit sockets is that the smaller sizes are where low quality usually becomes apparent, but in most cases the smaller bits can be easily punched out and replaced with higher quality 1/4" hex insert bits as needed for very little money, so even if the set itself isn't great overall it can still be made useful and functional. The chrome socket part of the bit socket usually works fine no matter what the brand is.

It looks like the impact driver is a brand like ABN or similar. A generic China (maybe Taiwan) manual impact driver. Likely originally sold along with some bits for $15-20 new max. That impact driver might not be something you would want to show off to your friends, but it's likely perfectly functional, which is what actually matters.

ABN Manual Reversible Impact Driver Set - Flathead 5/16 and 3/8in and Phillips #2 and #3 Hand Impact Driver Tool Bits - - Amazon.com

ABN Manual Reversible Impact Driver Set - Flathead 5/16 and 3/8in and Phillips #2 and #3 Hand Impact Driver Tool Bits - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Even quality brand used tool finds can turn to dust. I have purchased many things for great prices over the years only to find a hairline crack or something similar after getting home and beginning the cleaning process. There will always be mistakes and occasional losses when buying used, no matter how careful you are. I am still WAY ahead though in terms of money and time spent, so don't let situations like the one you just went through discourage you from continuing to buy used tools.

the driver was my main concern. that's definitely what i was worried about even 10 minutes after leaving the shop lol. i'm certainly an impulsive buyer and that will inevitably be my downfall. as for the sockets sets, even if i didn't score a sweet deal, at the very least im sure these will come in handy someday!

the good news is that at the same pawn shop i spent $30 on a CDI torque wrench that retails new for nearly $200!

 

[pizzabooty]

Ouch! That driver looks a lot like one I paid $10 for a few years ago at an Autozone.

 

[Fedwrench]

Not Cornwell, Not MAC, not made in USA.

I've never seen CR-V stamped on any US made tool. Cornwell does sell bit socket sets that come in a blue blow molded case but, the similarities end there. Cornwell doesn't make their own bit sockets. They come from different suppliers but, all of the bit sockets have Cornwell stamped on them. MAC Impact drivers are all black and come in red blow molded boxes. More importantly, the impact Driver will have MAC stamped into it. What we have pictured is generic chinesium where they don't care enough to laser etch a brand's name on the tools.

 

[The Cobbler]

the impact looks sub par given the mushroomed top. the large phillips bit looks to be broken

 

[pizzabooty]

Impulse buying strikes again! Thanks guys, i appreciate the responses. At least they knocked the driver down from $100

the impact looks sub par given the mushroomed top. the large phillips bit looks to be broken

The larger philips bit is definitely broken at the tip, and the smaller one is kinda twisted. Might try and get some new bits to at least see if the driver works. And i definitely will be telling my coworkers i bought it for $10 and not $50, gotta save myself some embarrassment

Not Cornwell, Not MAC, not made in USA.
...
What we have pictured is generic chinesium where they don't care enough to laser etch a brand's name on the tools.

Lesson learned, don't trust facebook marketplace sellers. At least i only paid roughly retail pricing on the socket sets.

 

[The Cobbler]

I bought VIM driver bits on amazon & have had good luck with them https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VUR6CE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[pizzabooty]

I've seen vim mentioned a few times, will likely be going with that. If the impact driver itself doesnt work out, i might pick up a snap-on, since at least i already have the 3/8 to 5/16 bitholding socket and i'll have a few bits.

 

[pizzabooty]

Also, here's a photo of the label for the hex bit sockets. It seems to be selling anywhere from $45-60 on ebay. This brand also does make a torx bit set but it appears to be different and has more pieces.

They also seem to be s2 steel, so is it safe to assume they arent impact rated and should not be used with the impact driver?

 

[Ricky Joe]

Impulse buying strikes again! Thanks guys, i appreciate the responses. At least they knocked the driver down from $100

The larger philips bit is definitely broken at the tip, and the smaller one is kinda twisted. Might try and get some new bits to at least see if the driver works. And i definitely will be telling my coworkers i bought it for $10 and not $50, gotta save myself some embarrassment


Lesson learned, don't trust facebook marketplace sellers. At least i only paid roughly retail pricing on the socket sets.

I often sell on marketplace, as I am trying to downsize due to deteriorating health. I am scrupulously honest, which is fairly easy since I am selling at significantly discounted prices. I have recently started using an auction company to divest. Not recommended if you want to make money, for sure. Rather than mistrust sellers, I would recommend knowing what you are buying, and stay away from Chinese. American tools usually are proud of their name, and quality is usually evident if you look well. One bad deal can knock out twenty good ones.

 

[woody 73]

OP don't feel bad for even one second because if truth be known most of us as tool buyers sometimes fall to the same tactics. Case in point several years ago, (and I should have known better) bought into a Mac pliers set because the seller kept insisting made in the USA... I am here to tell you ain't so... But he was so convincing that the little voice in my head was turning a blind eye so to speak. Sure, they work ok but the laser etching is wearing off and, in the end, it is what it is.

So, op use them and learn from your hard-earned lesson. You will go on in life to make other mistakes, (we all do).

 

[WWheeler]

Also, here's a photo of the label for the hex bit sockets. It seems to be selling anywhere from $45-60 on ebay. This brand also does make a torx bit set but it appears to be different and has more pieces.

They also seem to be s2 steel, so is it safe to assume they arent impact rated and should not be used with the impact driver?

Don't use those type bits or any 1/4" bits for any impact driver. You want to use 5/16 bits that fit your driver's bit adapter.

VIM 5/16 impact bit set

Amazon.com

Vessel 5/16 impact bit set

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P2X7FWC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have an old Mac (which I think was made by Lisle) impact driver that came with a 1/4" bit adapter in addition to the typical 5/16" bit adapter and once when I didn't have any 5/16" impact bits and I needed to get the wife's Prelude's rotors off I tossed what was probably a Dewalt or Milwaukee 1/4" impact rated bit in the other adapter and gave it a whack and learned right then 1/4" bits just aren't up to the task. Broke the brand new bit to pieces and boogered up the screw enough I had to drill it out. I don't even know why Mac included that 1/4" bit adapter but I'll be damned if I ever try to use it again.

The 5/16 impact driver bits by VIM or Vessel work really well and can take a beating, but buy extras if this is tool you are going to use very often because they will break/get wore out. FWIW I do tend to prefer the Vessel bits for Japanese Philips (JIS) fasteners but they do cost a bit more than the VIM do.

 

[KnurledNut]

hi friends, i picked up a few tools today from local sellers and want a little help identifying them (mostly to see how ripped off i got!)

firstly is this set of torx bit sockets. seller claimed it was cornwell, but i haven't really been able to identify any cornwell sets that look quite like this. maybe it's a vintage set, but these look very new. they also just have CR-V and the bit/socket size stamped on them. there's also a MADE IN USA sticker, but that very well could have been stuck in there for looks.


it looks mysteriously similar to this hex bit socket set i also bought from the same guy, made by sunhzmckp. they seem to be a chinese brand, although i can't really find too much about them.


next up is this impact driver i bought from a pawn shop. it was claimed to be mac, although the label that was on it indicated it was part of a pair, with the part number being AH600 which was actually an older air hammer sold by mac. i assume that it isn't mac, and it looks a lot like old vessel impact drivers, but there are no brand markings anywhere and the only indication i even have of manufacturer/COO is the patent number stamped into the bit adapter. top number is USA patent, bottom is ROC patent which i believe to mean taiwanese-made.



the socket sets were $35 apiece, and the driver was (painfully) $50. any information is appreciated, thanks!

The bit sets will probably hold up decent. I dont think that was a terrible deal if you needed them.
Bits like T8H, T9H, T27H, T47 can be handy and might not be in your co-workers sets. The same goes for 7mm and 9mm in the hex set.
Now about that impact driver, yeah you got took on that. Get a MAC sticker to put on it so at least it looks the part.

 

[Ricky Joe]

The bit sets will probably hold up decent. I dont think that was a terrible deal if you needed them.
Bits like T8H, T9H, T27H, T47 can be handy and might not be in your co-workers sets. The same goes for 7mm and 9mm in the hex set.
Now about that impact driver, yeah you got took on that. Get a MAC sticker to put on it so at least it looks the part.

This reminds me of when I was young I took two bars of steel, welded a nut between them to make a puller, and welded the Snap-On logo onto it. Wonder where that has gotten to? I haven’t seen it in years.